Reichman University Study Shows Surge in Teen Pornography and Gambling Addiction

A major new study led by Professor Anat Shoshani of the Maytiv Center for Positive Psychology at Reichman University, in collaboration with the Israeli Center on Addiction, has revealed a worrying rise in addictive behaviors and psychological distress among children and teenagers. The study, conducted in 2026 among 3,878 youth aged 9 to 18, highlights the cumulative toll of security crises, displacement, and prolonged screen time.

Rise in Addictions and Risky Behaviors

According to the findings published as the school year begins, 19% of high school students (one in five) report viewing pornographic content daily. Additionally, 17% of teenagers reported gambling for money multiple times over the past year.

Alcohol consumption among 12th graders has surged significantly, with 23.6% reporting drinking several times a month and on weekends, compared to just 8.9% in 2019.

Other substance use metrics show a steady upward trend:

• 10% of youth smoke cigarettes, up from 7.8% in 2019;

• 12.1% use electronic cigarettes;

• Approximately 9% report weekly or monthly cannabis use.

Professor Anat Shoshani noted:

"E-cigarettes are often perceived by youth as less harmful, and among 12th graders, they are now more common than traditional cigarettes. These risky behaviors do not occur in a vacuum; they are closely tied to emotional distress. For many teens, alcohol, cannabis, gambling, or pornography serve as accessible coping mechanisms to regulate distress, quiet their thoughts, or seek a sense of belonging."

Impact of Pornography Exposure

Professor Shoshani emphasized that research on teen dating violence indicates a strong link between exposure to violent or degrading pornography and the adoption of distorted "sexual scripts," damaged sexual self-esteem, and an increased risk of both committing and experiencing sexual and dating violence.

"The critical factor is not just viewing pornography, but the type of content. Material depicting coercion or humiliation as normal is most strongly associated with accepting attitudes toward sexual coercion. As parental supervision weakened due to lockdowns, military reserve duty, and evacuations, and access to private screens grew, the window of exposure to extreme content expanded."

Psychological Toll of the Security Situation

The study documents the severe mental health impact of the ongoing security situation on Israeli youth. Approximately 92% of respondents had to enter protected spaces, 17% were evacuated from their homes, 16% experienced property damage, 50% had a parent serve in the military reserves, and 28% personally knew someone injured in the war.

Currently, Israeli youth spend an average of over nine hours a day in front of screens. On average, adolescents check their phones about 100 times a day, with one in four checking it within five minutes of waking up.

Compared to pre-pandemic baseline data from September 2019, the 2026 figures show:

• Depression symptoms are up by 29%;

• Anxiety symptoms have increased by 48%;

• Physical symptoms of distress (headaches, stomach aches, fatigue) have risen by 61%.

Girls reported significantly higher levels of distress than boys across all measures, with overall distress levels being approximately 50% higher. Post-traumatic stress symptoms among girls were nearly 60% higher than among boys, and they also recorded longer screen times.

Signs of Recovery

Despite the sobering statistics, the study identified several encouraging trends in social and physical recovery compared to the previous year:

• The percentage of teens meeting friends at least once a week rose from 49% in 2025 to 69% in 2026;

• Participation in family dinners increased from 54% to 65%, and family conversations rose from 62% to 72%;

• Weekly sports participation reached 42%, up from 30% in 2019;

• Weekly gaming rates dropped from 51% to 42%.

However, reading habits have severely declined, with the percentage of youth reading books at least once a week dropping from 55% in 2019 to just 24% in 2026.

"The fact that a child returns to school, laughs with friends, and does homework does not mean everything is behind them," Shoshani concluded. "Children can function while carrying fear, sadness, and insecurity. The challenge for the education system is not just returning children to classrooms, but gradually restoring their sense of safety, belonging, and control over their lives."